CARIBOU, Maine — As rain across much of the state turned to snow in northern Maine on Thursday afternoon, meteorologists forecast up to 10 inches might fall on northern Aroostook County by early Friday.
The first significant snowstorm of the season also was expected to drop 5 to 8 inches on other parts of The County and 3 to 5 inches in central and Down East Maine, according to meteorologist Mark Bloomer of the National Weather Service office in Caribou.
A winter storm warning issued for northern Maine was in effect until 1 a.m. Friday.
By 1 p.m. Thursday, about an inch had accumulated in Madawaska and light snow had begun to fall in southern Aroostook County. Fort Kent and Madawaska-area schools closed early, sending students home at 2 p.m.
Bloomer said northern Maine residents could expect to see an increase in winds throughout the evening and worsening travel conditions on roadways.
“Washington County will not be as badly impacted by snow as Aroostook County,” he said. “They will only receive about 3 to 5 inches.”
Bloomer said the Bangor area would receive only a trace of snow.
As of 5 p.m., the speed limit for the stretch of Interstate 95 that runs from Exit 182 in Bangor to Exit 244, located eight miles north of the West Enfield area, was reduced to 45 mph, the Maine Department of Transportation said in an email alert.
The storm already was causing power outages by early Thursday evening.
As of 6:30 p.m., Emera Maine reported 656 outages in its service area. The bulk of the affected customers — 516 — were located in Dyer Brook, Ludlow, Merrill, New Limerick Oakfield and Smyrna Mills. Another 102 customers in Millinocket were without power, with smaller totals affected in Lee and Bridgewater.
Service to those areas was expected to be restored by 8 p.m.
Central Maine Power was reporting no outages at that time.
Officials with Emera Maine reported tracking the weather forecast in anticipation of the storm.
In a statement issued Thursday morning, utility officials said they were readying trucks, stock and appropriate personnel in preparation for the possibility of power outages.
Customers were reminded to stay clear of fallen power lines and of trees near or touching the lines. People using alternate heat sources and generators also are reminded to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
St. John Valley Times writer Don Eno and BDN writer Dawn Gagnon contributed to this report.